Drew's Journal

08/27/2008 16:41 #45471

My cousin died.

He was kayaking, which he loved. More details, if you want them:

It was always a joy hanging out with Isaac. He was full of joy. Isaac always put relationships first, and always gave fully of himself. Radical in politics, faith, and life (and all of them were completely intertwined, which I love), Isaac lived more in his 26 years than many people do in 80. He will be missed dearly.

mrmike - 08/28/08 15:09
Sorry for your loss, Drew. Sounds like a great guy with a healthy zeal for what life has to offer.

museumchick - 08/27/08 23:00
I'm so sorry, Drew. My thoughts are with you and your family.

james - 08/27/08 21:28
I am sorry for your loss.

tinypliny - 08/27/08 19:23
That is a terrible loss! He was just 27! I think it's so unfair that people who are a joy to experience pass away. I wish I had met him. :(

janelle - 08/27/08 18:35
I loved how innocent and joyful and passionate Isaac was in life.

I certainly will miss Isaac a lot.

Love you.

hodown - 08/27/08 17:37
I'm so sorry for your loss.

jason - 08/27/08 16:59
Oh, Lord. What a loss. God rest him. I'm so sorry my friend.

drew - 08/27/08 16:48
wow. This place is like a sympahty o matic I just posted maybe a minute ago.

Thanks all. Estrip is very good.

heidi - 08/27/08 16:48
I'm so sorry, Drew. My thoughts are with you.

jim - 08/27/08 16:45
I'm sorry, Drew :(

matthew - 08/27/08 16:44
I'm sorry for your loss.

joshua - 08/27/08 16:43
Wow... I am sorry (e:drew). That is tragic news. I hope that everybody can find some comfort one way or another.

08/26/2008 15:18 #45461

The Place. The Diner Dash.

The place has finally reopened. It has been closed since before (e:Janelle) and I moved here (almost a year and a half), but is finally open.

I have no idea what it will be like--I've heard mixed reviews, but it looks like the kind of place I might enjoy, and it is literally a block from my house, so it seems like I have no choice but to give it a try.

I will be going tonight after we take our animals to the vet. After getting three animals in and out of the vet's office, I will be ready for a drink.

If you would like to join us, just comment. I would imagine we will arrive around 8, but I don't know for sure. It's at the corner of Lexington and Ashland.

Also, if any of you are runners, I will be running four miles in the diner dash, to benefit Loaves and Fishes Dining room. Go here

to find out more.

drew - 08/26/08 18:48
We should arrive there close to 7:30.

metalpeter - 08/26/08 18:30
I'm really not up for it tonight but hope you have a great time and maybe some others will join in. The thing about the place was that it was good. I don't eat fish but one thing I didn't like about it was that they had a fish tank in there and they also sold fish. It wasn't like the hey come pick your lobster deal like some places have but to have fish for people to look at or as kinda pets and then to serve fish also is kinda odd. Hope the food is good and that it is a good time.

matthew - 08/26/08 16:02
it's finally open again! When (e:Paul), (e:terry), and I lived across the street from "the place" we wanted to check it out, but we never seemed to make it there. Then it closed. Maybe well finally eat there after all, seven years later. Is it still called "the place"? Same owners?

mrmike - 08/26/08 15:54
In its heyday, the Place was a terrific venue for comfort food. No haute cuisine, but a roast beef mashed potato sort of joint and there is nothing wrong with those.

08/24/2008 18:13 #45442

Jbeatty's list.
Category: food

This was a long assignment.

Only had to strikethrough two, I think.

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile (does alligator count??)
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat's milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth �60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald's Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S'mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
~~65. Durian~~
66. Frogs' legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
~~70. Chitterlings, or andouillette~~
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

08/23/2008 09:55 #45418

Pittsburghers are everywhere
Category: pittsburgh

Notice the Terrible Towel in the background? in Bejing? at the Olympics?

(Picture found at post-gazette.com)

for more on the towel:

Go Stillers!

metalpeter - 08/23/08 12:51
That thing is huge, I thought they were all small. I have one that I lost in my house someplace. The one I have you wouldn't want to use as a towel it is pretty stiff and rough. On a side note that silver statue in front of your church corner (saw it on the bus) is pretty interesting. The tin man waves.........

drew - 08/23/08 12:33
Hmmm... They play tonight.

tinypliny - 08/23/08 12:28
That's hilarious. "You the man who made Tellble Tile?"

janelle - 08/23/08 11:19
NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jim - 08/23/08 10:36
"However, the towel is often used by fans who do not attend games. Fans often drape the towel over their radios or television sets, some even dress their pets or babies with it."

So, Drew, when will you post your photos of Buckley wearing his terrible towel?

janelle - 08/23/08 10:04

shake my head*

08/19/2008 22:12 #45373

10 Things I like about August

1. Vacation.

2. NFL Training Camp.

3. Catching the last of the outdoor concerts.

4. Elmwood Ave. Art fest.

5. The Olympics (this August, at least)

6. Not too hot, not too cool.

7. A lot of monthly meetings that I have don't meet in August.

8. Baseball's playoff race.

9. More time to blog (whoops! First post of the month. Sorry estrip.)

10. All of the good stuff that comes up in the garden (soon, I hope).